The Southwestern Medical Foundation has appointed Kathleen M. Gibson president and CEO.

She had been executive vice president of the foundation, which supports UT Southwestern Medical Center and its affiliated institutions by building community awareness and raising money to fund its programs. Gibson has also served on the foundation’s board of trustees and its investment committee.

As president and CEO, Gibson will work closely with board chairman William T. Solomon, the foundation’s board and its executive management team.

“We’re honored to have Kathleen Gibson lead the foundation, which continues to support UT Southwestern Medical Center in this period of dynamic growth,” Solomon said. “Her exceptional management skills, business and financial expertise and community knowledge make her the ideal leader as the foundation strives to expand UT Southwestern’s role in North Texas and around the world.”

Gibson succeeds Dr. Kern Wildenthal as president and CEO of the foundation. Wildenthal will continue to be on the leadership team as a senior consultant, as will executive vice president Plack Carr Jr., who served as interim CEO.

Gibson joined Citibank in 2006 and was head of Citibank Texas Commercial and president of Citibank Texas until 2007, when she was named president of commercial banking for the central U.S.

Before that, she spent 25 years with Bank of America and its predecessor in Dallas. From 2003 to 2006, she was president of Bank of America Dallas.

A native Texan, Gibson lived part of her childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University.

Gibson is chairwoman of the 2012 Dallas March for Babies Campaign and has served on the boards of the Dallas Regional Chamber, Dallas Citizens Council, Children’s Medical Center and Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Foundation. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum, Charter 100, Dallas Woman’s Club and Junior League of Dallas.

“As UT Southwestern continues to make great strides in medical research, education and patient care, it’s important to remember that this crucial goal can only be achieved with the generosity of our community,” Gibson said. “I am delighted to work with so many key leaders and donors who play an ongoing role in helping UT Southwestern provide hope for generations to come.”

The foundation was created in 1939 to support Baylor Medical School and switched its focus to Southwestern Medical School in 1943, when Baylor Medical School moved to Houston.

The foundation’s assets have grown from less than $30 million in 1985 to more than $750 million today. Its net assets hit a new high this year as it works to raise $200 million to complete the $800 million William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital.

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